(based on Pic. 2 of Caption This 10/19)
I am at my wit’s end. My 16 year old son Dylan has started to hang out with a “bad” crowd, the kind that has real trouble makers. He is basically a good kid but is at that age when he is rebelling against my parental authority and wants to fit in with the cool kids. It hasn’t been easy for us since my wife passed away. He needs someone he respects and admires to help him get through this time in his life.
Kevin is a third year pre-med student at the local college where I am a professor. He lives next door in my neighbor’s “mother-in-law” house while he goes to school. I’ve helped him with his classes a few times when he has had trouble understanding some of the concepts. Kevin is a bright guy who is captain and quarterback of the school’s football team and isn’t too shabby to look at either. Like any college student his age, he likes to party and have his fun with the young ladies but he is a responsible young man, the perfect role model for Dylan. I can tell my son is in awe of him so maybe Dylan will listen to Kevin. I dial Kevin’s phone. It goes into voice mail so I leave him a message asking if he will drop by my house when he gets home. I want to talk with him about helping my son.
A short while later I hear the familiar sound of Kevin pulling up to the front of my house on his motorcycle. My doorbell rings and sure enough Kevin is standing there in his leather jacket looking like he just stepped out of an ad in one of those motorcycle magazines. “Hey Dr. G. what’s up?” I invite him in and after asking him to sit down I come straight to the point.
“Thanks for coming over Kevin. I have a huge favor to ask of you. You know Dylan just entered his sophomore year in high school and is going through that stage where he is trying to find himself. He needs someone he can look up to for guidance and as I am “just his dad” he tends not to listen to me. I was wondering if you might be willing to help me out, maybe hang around with him a little and try to steer him in the right direction. I’m sure you have noticed he idolizes you, both as the local sports hero and the big brother that he never had.”
“Sure Dr. G. I’ll be glad to help you out how ever I can. I only have one condition. Meet me at my place in about an hour and we can finalize the plan.” He leaves while I wonder what his condition is.